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Tk100cr grant is about to be returned, just like the earlier 12 months, as ministry can’t select from 600 analysis proposals
Infographic: TBS
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Infographic: TBS
Gradual and regular might win the race however this age-old technique just isn’t the perfect one relating to preventing a pandemic.
In the course of the world outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, as researchers around the globe scrambled to make sense of the novel coronavirus, Bangladesh well being authorities additionally took steps to conduct their very own analysis.
The Ministry of Well being and Household Welfare allotted Tk100 crore within the fiscal 2020-21 only for analysis within the nation’s well being sector, an astounding quantity contemplating the primary time such a grant was introduced in FY2019-20, the quantity was a meagre Tk5 crore.
The attention-popping sum raised hopes among the many nation’s researchers. The battle towards Covid-19 had simply been strengthened!
Sadly, a scarcity of preparation by the ministry and bureaucratic crimson tape – a relentless fixture in nearly all sectors within the nation – meant that not a single taka was disbursed.
In FY2021-22, the well being ministry once more allotted Tk100 crore for analysis.
However with three months left earlier than this fiscal 12 months ends, it appears no classes have been discovered because the ministry is but to approve a single proposal, finalise the choice course of or disburse any cash.
In accordance with ministry sources, the excuse for failing to disburse any cash the primary time was as a result of there had been no coverage on how the analysis cash was to be spent. The Ministry of Finance took 5 months to draft a coverage. Then, the well being ministry took one other 4 months to situation the coverage. Afterwards, the well being ministry shaped a range and nationwide committee.
By the point all this was carried out, the fiscal 12 months had ended and the ministry was but to even search proposals.
This 12 months, the same state of affairs can play out.
Dr Jahidur Rahman, assistant professor, Division of Microbiology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical Faculty Hospital, was one among many who has submitted a analysis proposal for approval.
“Covid-19 has great analysis worth as it’s a new phenomenon. There was loads of information round through the outbreak however we couldn’t conduct any analysis as a result of lack of funds. However not a single taka has been allotted for analysis to the academics of the federal government medical schools. We had change into hopeful when the Tk100 crore was allotted for analysis within the well being sector,” he instructed The Enterprise Commonplace.
“The round asking for analysis proposals talked about that the fund can be allotted in a short while. However we now have not obtained any response from the authorities involved to date after submitting the proposal. We don’t know whether or not we might be capable to conduct the analysis in any respect,” he added.
Misplaced alternatives
The well being ministry had issued the round calling for analysis proposals on 22 June final 12 months below the Coverage of Built-in Well being-Science Analysis and Improvement Fund 2021 (revised). It set a deadline of 1 July 2021. Greater than 600 analysis proposals had been submitted.
As per the coverage, the analysis proposals obtained should be despatched to the Choice (technical) Committee inside 30 days. They’ll then submit the record of chosen proposals to the Award (nationwide) Committee for approval inside 15 days.
The Award Committee will assessment the really useful proposals and finalise the nominees inside 30 days and inform them inside seven days.
Though approval for the proposals was presupposed to be given inside two-and-a-half months, it hasn’t been carried out but 9 months later.
Dr Jahidur Rahman additional stated, “Earlier, there was no alternative for analysis. However now there’s an allocation. We wish it to be distributed as quickly as doable, in order that researchers like us can begin our work.”
Researchers worry that the delay has meant that earlier analysis proposals had change into outdated and the chance to glean info for pandemic-preparedness and doable vaccines at the moment are misplaced.
Some additionally worry that the delay in disbursing the funds would imply much less time to conduct research and submit outcomes, leading to encouraging ‘copy-paste analysis’.
In accordance with the coverage, analysis ought to be accomplished inside two years and the grants shall be given in three instalments.
Professor Dr Ridwanur Rahman, head of the analysis centre on the Common Medical Faculty and member of the Award Committee (nationwide), instructed The Enterprise Commonplace, “Greater than 600 proposals have been submitted. They’ve been checked and chosen and funds shall be allotted quickly.
In accordance with sources, 60 proposals are from the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College and over 50 proposals are from the icddr,b. A lot of the researchers sought quantities between Tk40 lakh to Tk10 crore.
Race towards time
With the clock ticking down, authorities involved are nonetheless optimistic that the funds could be disbursed within the subsequent three months. Some consultants, nevertheless, imagine extra must be carried out.
Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College, stated, “The present monetary 12 months will finish by 30 June, so the choice course of must be accomplished shortly. For this, particular preparations must be made if needed.”
A supply on the Nationwide Committee on analysis funding within the well being sector instructed TBS, “Greater than 600 proposals had been submitted and most of them are excellent. It took time to confirm the proposals. A lot of the members of the choice committee are docs. They’d to do that scrutiny course of along with their skilled work, so it took time.
“There are numerous issues within the ministry together with seating issues, lack of computer systems and supporting manpower and so forth, that are additionally causes behind the delay,” he added.
Md Ahsan Kabir, joint secretary (medical schooling) and member secretary of the Nationwide Choice Committee on Built-in Well being-Science Analysis and Improvement Fund Administration, stated, “The verification and choice has been accomplished and the funds shall be given quickly. There’s a assembly of the nationwide committee this month the place a call shall be taken on this regard. We hope that funding for analysis shall be supplied inside this monetary 12 months. No cash shall be returned this 12 months.”
Dr Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury, basic secretary, Bangladesh Medical Affiliation, stated, “Final 12 months, the analysis allocation of Tk100 crore couldn’t be spent as there was no particular coverage. However this 12 months, there’s a coverage. So, it will be a failure if the authorities can’t spend the cash.”
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